The legendary Dennis Leon Smith of the Bear Creek community in Cumberland County, Kentucky, went to his happy hunting ground in the sky on Friday, August 14, 2026, at the Cumberland County Hospital, having attained the age of 90 years, 6 months, and 13 days. He was born in Bow, (Cumberland County) Kentucky on Sunday, February 1, 1936, the son of Charles Cleveland “C.C.” & Eliza Jane (Phares) Smith.

He was a Christian man and member of Centerpoint Nazarene Church in Burkesville, Kentucky, and he served our country in the U.S. Army. He was a lifelong educator, having attained his Masters degree & Rank I in Education. At Kettle Elementary School, he served as PE Instructor, Coach, Reading Instructor, Head Teacher, and beloved mentor to many students. He was the first principal at the Cumberland County Middle School. He was the 1st Hall of Fame inductee in the United Trappers of Kentucky, a founder of the Steelhorse Stampede, a member in the Cumberland County Athletic Hall of Fame, a turkey hunting World Slam recipient, and a member of the NRA, American Legion, Cumberland County Retired Teachers Association, National Trappers Association, Burkesville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce, and many other community-minded activities. He was an avid outdoorsman, tough as nails, and kind to anyone that would let him be. He was old school in his manners and actions.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, J.C. Smith; sisters, Patsy Poindexter, Maxine Radford & Drusilla Allen; half siblings, Sam Smith, Pauline Garner, Olene Watson, Geneva Ferguson, Howard Reed Smith, & Charles Edwin Smith; paternal grandparents, Sam & Josephine (Williams) Smith; and maternal grandparents, Jim & Eliza (Moreland) Phares.

He is survived by his wife Faye (Brumley) Smith whom he wed on Saturday, September 3, 1960; his son, Bro. Dennis Charles (& Dorothy) Smith of Somerset, Kentucky; daughter, Gina (& Gerald) Claywell of Burkesville; sister, Stanna Page of Lexington, Kentucky; grandchildren, Charlton Claywell, Catherine Polanowicz, Jacob Leon Smith, & Eliza Jane Smith; great-grandchildren Shepherd and Silas Dunagan, and Matilda Polanowicz and her soon-to-be-born sister; a host of nieces & nephews; and many, many friends.

The funeral service will be conducted on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 2:00 P.M. CST in the Memory Chapel of Norris-New Funeral Home. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, after 6:00 p.m. CST until the funeral hour on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions in his memory to The Cumberland County Rescue Squad or We Care.

Norris-New Funeral Home in Burkesville, Kentucky is honored to be in charge of all the arrangements.